Two suspects from Mombasa have been detained for 21 days over the alleged recruitment of youths to join terror groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia.
The order was issued by a Mombasa Court on Thursday, April 11, where the court determined that the two male suspects should remain apprehended as detectives conduct investigations.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) detectives believe that the two, one aged 27, and the other aged 21, may be part of a terror cell brewing in Likoni, Mombasa County.
“They are suspected to have committed the offence of Recruiting of Members of a Terrorist Group contrary to Section 13 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012”, read the statement in part.
It is reported that the two have been under the leadership of one individual who had moved to Somalia and undergone radicalization training from the Al Shabaab.
Further, the two have claimed that other individuals are part of the crew, however, they have not yet been apprehended.
They have also claimed that the crew has been accessing videos of a controversial preacher from a popular social media platform.
During the proceedings, the investigating officer told the court he needed 30 days to conclude investigations including taking three phones seized from the first suspect for forensic analysis.
However, the court granted 21 days.
The detention comes after the country experienced a terrorist attack on April 9 in Lamu County that claimed the lives of several Kenyans.
In the incident, terrorists targeted and torched a truck and a pickup near the Bagdam Bridge on the far North Coast.
